Adjustable automobile seat



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,308

R. w. cHlLsoN ET Al.

ADJUSTABLEv AUTOMOBILE SEAT Filed Nov. 1e, 1925 Patented Jan. 29, 1.929.

UNITEDV STATES 1,100,308 PATENT OFFICE.

ROY W. QJIISON, EBWIN L. BACON, AND BOY E. LUIKART, F DETROIT, MCHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMOBILE saar.

.eppncatiun mea November 1s, 19ans.v serial 11g/69,462.'

The invention relates to vehicle seat construction and more particularly to an at,- tachment for tiltin front seats of automobiles adapted to provi e .a longitudinal adjust- 5 ment of the seat with res t to the vehicle.

Oneof they objects o the invention is` to provide a device assembled as a unit which may be quickly and easily attached to a tilt-.K

able seat to render Yit adjustable longitudinally ofthe vehicle.

' Another object is to provide a constructlon having means for relativel moving the seat with respect to the vehic e which is automatically self-locking in a plurality of positions of adjustment.

Still further objects reside in the features of construction as hereinafter described and more fully set forth and illustrated inthe i accompanying drawings wherein:

. Figure 1 is a section showing a seat provided with a device embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the attachment; d

Figure 3 isa transverse section on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective viewof a modified construction j formed principally of sheet metal.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Figure 2. d

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of our invention illustrated in the drawings, A represents the front stationary posts or brackets for pivotally supporting a seat B, the latter being provided with .the

rear legs B resting on the Hoor ofthe vehicle and being also preferably pro ided with a back B2 hingedly secured at `.B y. This type of seat construction is commonly used for the front seat of automobiles of the so-called coach type and it is usual to provide brackets rigidly attached to the underside'vof the seat and pivotally connected to the posts A.

According to our invention the brackets depending from the underside of the seat are removed and in their place we substitute the construction illustrated in plan view in Figure 2 which comprises essentially two frame members C and D slidably connected together to Jform a sin'gle unit. The frame C is secured to the underside of the seat in any suitable manner preferably by means of screws extending through the apertures C formed in the/frame. At the side edges of the frame C are flanges which have formed therein the grooves E .for receiving the side edges of the frame D. The central portions of-frames C and D are preferably cut-away leaving the `transverse'connecting portions C2 and D2 respctively. The fra-me C is also provided with two parallel racks F and F and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 `the racks being formed by a series of spaced lugs G projecting .fromthe face of the frame C. The frame D -thereof projecting outward beyond the frame C for receiving a handle or an adjustable wheel K. The shaft J has fixed thereon the two pinions L and L each of which engages one of the racks G. A coil spring M is arranged between the pinion L andthe iange H thereby urging the shaft J axially in one direction until the pinion L engages the adjacent flange H. This flange hasI a detent N projecting therefrom adapted to engage between the detent of the pinion L to prevent rotation thereof. The detent, however, may be released from engagement lwith the pinion by axially moving the shaft J in opposition to the spring M and the spacing between the two anges H' is sufficient to permit of the necessary axial movement. In both axial positions of adjustment, however the pinions are in engagement with the respective racks so that by rotation of the handle K, the frames C and D are given a sliding movement with respect to each other. A a

In orderto limit the adjustment of the frames C and D, suitable stops are provided and as shown there are the raised portions O at the ends of the racks against which the teeth ofthe pinion strike when the extreme movement of the frames is reached. The pinion teeth thus tend to ride upon the raised lugs O and'in so doing exert a lateral thrust betweenv the two frames, but since the lateral movement of the frames is limited by the guideways E further rotation of the pinion is prevented.

The advantages of the construction as above described will be readily apparent. The device may be quickly attached to the underside of theseat and pivotally fastened to the supporting posts A so that the seat may be tilted forward in the usual manner. The construction liowever,provides the furtheradvantage of permitting longitudinal adjustment of the seat relative to the vehicle to adapt the same t0 the requirements of the driver. In order to effect this adjustment the shaft J is moved axially by pressure against the hand wheel K, thus releasing the detent N and the frame C can them slide relative to the frame B. The sliding movementl may be effected either by rotation of the hand wheel K or by moving the seat directly. 'Thel occupant can thus adjust the seat to the desired position while remaining seated. One of the features of the construction is due to the fact that the device is automatically selflockingso that as soon as the axial pressure on the handfwheel K is released, the pinion will. at once be forced into locking engagement with the detent. I l

It will be observed that when the supporting post A is 0f greater length than the rear le s B a forward movement of the seat B. Wil also raise the forward end of the seat, as clearly indicated in Figure 1, by the dotted lines which represent the adjusted position of the seat.

In the construction as above described, the frames C and D are preferably made of cast-- ings, but the deviceis readily adapted for construction of' pressed sheet metal parts and Figure 4 shows a modification for this type of manufacture; VIn this case the main frame Q has the raised portion R in which are arranged a series of perforations R for engaging the teeth of the pinions. The edges of the frame Q, are also bent into U shaped form to i provide the longitudinal guide. ways Q for brackets for attachment to the posts A. In

the cosoperating frame member S. This latter frame has the `transversely bent ianges `S struck up from .the metal late, in order tov form the bearings for the s aft J and the thismodication one of the brackets S is also provided with a laterally bent flanges forming the detent for locking the pin. In order to pivotally attach the frame member S tothe vehicle, luos T are provided which are preferably welded to the frame, thereby providing a constructionpermitting the location of the lu s to correspond with the stationary posts on the vehicle.

The lugs T are preferably constructed of U shaped form in order to embrace the posts A and are provided with aligned apertures vT for receiving the pivot pin.

Intboth of the constructions as above described it will be noted that two lugs are provided, each arranged adjacent to one of the guide Ways on the frame. There are also two pinions, each fixed upon the shaft so that. both sides of the frames are adjusted simultaneously therebypreventing any binding of the frames while being adjusted. Another feature of the device is the arrangement whereby' the seat is tilted to a vslightly different angle in each of the positions of longitudinal adjustment. By reason of thisconstruction. the operator of the vehicle is enabled to change his position in the car and it has been found that this slight adjustment is very restful especially Where the driver is seated in the car for a long period of time.

and forming a structure separable from both j the seat and the vehicle as a unit, a rack carried by one frame, a rotatable and axially 4 .movable shaft in the other frame, a pinion 'on said shaft engaging said rack, a detent on the shaft-carrying frame, spring means normally holding said pinion in engagement with said detent, and a handle on said shaft for axially moving the latter to disengage said pinion from said detent, said handle being also adapted to rotate said pinion.

2. In a vehicle seat, the combination of a frame having a pair of spaced parallel Iguide ways. a second frame longitudinally slidable in said guide Ways, a rack on one frame, a shaft journaled in the other frame, a pinion fixed on said shaft -and engaging said rack, a detent on the shaft-carrylng frame engageable with said pinion, aspring for axially moving said shaft toward said detent, and a handle on said shaft for axially and rotatably moving the same.

3. In a vehicle seat, the combination with a frame having spaced parallel guide Ways thereon, a second frame slidable in said guide ways', a pair of racks formed on one frame member parallel to said guide Ways, a shaft .journaled in the other frame member adapted to move axially, a pairof pinions fixed on said shaft eachengaging one of said racks, a pair of stops limitingI the axial movement of, said shaft, a detent engageable with one toward said detent, a handle fixed on said shaft, raised portions at the ends of said racksforming stops engageable with said pinf ions in the extreme opposite positions of adjustment of said frames.

1. A11 attachment for vehicle seats comprising a frame adapted to be attached to the underside of the seat, a second frame adaptedV to pivotally engage a supporting member on the vehicle, means including an laxially movable and rotatable shaft for adjustingone frame with respect to the other, and means o erable upon axial movement of the said shaft for locking one frame against movement with respect to the other.

5. In combination, a pair of frames, one adapted for attachment to a vehicle seat and the other adapted for attachment to the vehicle, a rack on one of the frames, a shaft on the other of the frames, a pinion on stantly urging said shaft and pinion axially the shaft meshing with the said rack, the into said locking position. said shaft and pinion being mounted for axial movement and being rotatable for adjusting the one frame with respect to the other, means operable upon axial movement of the shaft and pinion for locking the frames against movement, and means con- 10 Irl-testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

ROY W. GHILSON, ERWIN L. BACON, RQYE. LUIKART. 

